The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Bode Ojajuni, has called for urgent reforms in the post-judgment management of small arms and light weapons, warning that lapses in handling recovered weapons could undermine national security gains.
Ojajuni made the call in Abeokuta during a one-day high-level seminar organised by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, describing the initiative as both timely and critical in confronting Nigeria’s evolving security threats.
The police chief stressed that the persistent proliferation of illicit arms among non-state actors continues to drive violent crimes, noting that such weapons remain central to criminal operations across the country.
He observed that while security agencies have intensified enforcement operations and recorded significant recoveries of illegal arms, the challenge of managing these weapons after court proceedings remains largely unresolved.
According to him, a considerable number of seized arms are currently held in armouries as exhibits under the custody of various agencies, a situation he said demands stronger coordination, transparency, and accountability mechanisms.
Ojajuni warned that delays in retrieving and properly documenting such weapons after judicial processes could create vulnerabilities, including the risk of diversion or misuse within the system.
He therefore advocated the creation of a centralised and proactive framework that would ensure the immediate mop-up and secure transfer of recovered arms once legal proceedings are concluded.
The seminar, coordinated by retired Commissioner of Police Abiodun Alamutu, brought together key stakeholders from across the security and justice sectors to deliberate on sustainable strategies for arms control.
Participants included representatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Customs Service, Department of State Services, Nigeria Immigration Service, the military, and the Ministry of Justice, reflecting a broad-based commitment to tackling arms proliferation.
In his closing remarks, Ojajuni commended the Centre’s leadership for convening the seminar and reaffirmed the Ogun State Police Command’s resolve to deepen inter-agency collaboration, strengthen arms control systems, and sustain efforts to safeguard lives and property.